The efficacy of social work supervision: a case study in Bojanala District

Abstract

Supervision has been recognised as a critical component in the provision of social services by the Department of Social Development in South Africa. The SACSSP also recognise supervision as an obligatory practice. Social workers are thus required to be supervised on social work issues by experienced and duly authorised social work supervisors as stipulated by the Social Services Profession Act 110 of 1978. Therefore, because frontline social workers receive supervision, their views on how supervision influences they day-to-day functioning including service provision is critical to provide compelling advice on practice hence the study. The study explored the efficacy of social work supervision for the supervisees within the Department of Social Development (DSD) in the Bojanala District, North West Province of South Africa. The study followed a qualitative research approach and was confined within a case study research design. The strength-based approach was adopted. A sample was drawn from social work supervisees employed by DSD at the Bojanala District. Data from participants was generated through individual interviews and focus group interviews to identify their day-to-day experiences, challenges, and to determine the efficacy of social work supervision in Bojanala District. Data was analysed by means of Dudley’s twelve steps of qualitative data analysis to establish recurring themes and interpret the data provided by participants. Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) model of data verification was utilised to verify the authenticity of the information. Research ethics were considered to protect the human rights of participants in this study. Amongst other findings, it has been revealed in the study that some supervisors in the Bojanala District are knowledgeable about social work supervision because they can support supervisees in work and personal matters. There was also a cohort of supervisors who were also not competent because they lacked knowledge regarding social work supervision. The supervisee pointed out that supervisors do not conduct supervision sessions, lack information on how to handle critical cases like child neglect, cannot foster relationships with internal and external stakeholders thus unable to connect practitioners with resources. Consequently, among other recommendations, the practitioners recommended that extensive supervision training is required for supervisors to strengthen their knowledge and boost their confidence to supervise.